This left Asuma deeply puzzled.
Why could Chiba Hakushi, a renegade ninja, achieve all this, while Konoha ninjas, who accepted the Hokage's orthodox ideology, could not turn the Land of Fire into a prosperous paradise like the Land of Demons?
What exactly is the difference here?
As a renegade ninja, why did he choose to do this?
The person who transformed the Land of Demons into a paradise undoubtedly possesses the abilities of an ideal Hokage, but has forsaken Konoha and joined the Land of Demons... The more Asuma thought about it, the more inconceivable and perplexing it became.
From a personal perspective, he deeply hated Chiba Hakushi, who killed his brother and sister-in-law, but in terms of governance, the other's abilities might very well surpass all previous Hokages.
Because Konoha's Hokage lacks the concept of 'country.'
He doesn't know about the previous Hokages, but he knows his father, the Third Hokage, lacks the concept of 'country.'
In his eyes, the world only consists of 'Konoha.'
The Hokage is also the master of the world.
But in Asuma's view, such a world is undoubtedly narrow and selfish.
He read about the deeds of the First Hokage and increasingly believes that the First Hokage's initial purpose in establishing Konoha was not to achieve peace for one village, but to bring peace to the whole world, hoping to use the role of a leader to end all conflicts in the world.
However, the First Hokage ultimately did not break through the concept of 'Hokage,' nor did he break through the concept of 'Konoha.'
Konoha's 'jade,' the Land of Fire's 'jade,' or maybe...
The more he thought about it, the more confused Asuma became.
In the end, he could only sigh, knowing that if his father heard such thoughts, he would start lecturing him again.
He also knows that his thoughts are not tolerated by Konoha.
But he is simply following the First Hokage's original ideas, wanting to protect a larger 'jade,' not just Konoha's 'jade.' Is he truly wrong in this?
Or maybe, it's not he who is wrong, but his father, who is the Hokage.
Without doubt and criticism, how can there be progress?
Present-day Konoha is as silent as a graveyard, lifeless and devoid of any vigor to move forward.
◎
Using the word obtuse to describe Asuma's current state is undoubtedly the most appropriate choice of word.
He came to the Land of Demons to relax, but after witnessing the ecology of the country's populace, the passionate smiles on their faces expressing longing for life, not mere survival, he found his heart even more confused.
What does this mean? The person who inherited the true thinking of the Hokage has abandoned Konoha as a renegade ninja?
These past few days, Asuma has been wandering around Shion City, observing its lifestyle in detail, increasingly mocking himself, or perhaps mocking the Konoha where he was born.
The matters previous Hokages couldn't break through until their deaths, a group of renegade ninjas completed in just over a decade.
This joke isn't funny at all.
Asuma stood on the edge of a hilltop park, from here one could overlook the entire scenery of Shion City.
It was nearly dusk, and under the beautiful sunset, the enormous city appeared incredibly serene and lovely.
The more Asuma admired the scenery here, the more he could feel the gap between Konoha, the Land of Fire, and here.
If it weren't for him being a Konoha ninja, he might even consider settling here.
With stable public order, people living and working in peace, convenient transportation, and other factors, once accustomed to life here, returning to Konoha might lead to feeling uncomfortable due to the inconvenience of life.
People tend to have lazy instincts.
Asuma was no exception.
"Speaking of which, the past Fourth Hokage Minato-sama and Shikaku-san, because of Tsunade-sama's travels in the Land of Demons, seemed to have proposed to partially emulate the policies of the Land of Demons..."
Asuma suddenly remembered.
That was eight or nine years ago when the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato had just taken office.
It was said there was quite a stir at the Jonin meeting, but in the end, the matter was left unresolved.
Following the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage, no one mentioned it further.
The new policies during the Fourth Hokage's time were almost all overturned by his father, the Third Hokage, for his so-called balance strategy, stabilizing the balance between ninja clans.
What about civilian ninjas?
Asuma looked at the ordinary people below, suddenly having an epiphany, but inside felt more puzzled and unclear.
While he was pondering this, footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.
As an experienced Jonin, Asuma naturally became alert, turning around to look at the approaching figure, his expression suddenly stunned, then turning cold as intense killing intent faintly flickered in his eyes.
With clenched fists, Asuma did his utmost to restrain his hatred.
Chiba Hakushi.
Though his appearance changed since his time in Konoha, he still remembered that face clearly.
The culprit who killed his brother and sister-in-law!
An S-class felon who brought disgrace to the Land of Fire and Konoha!
Even though his warrant has now been revoked by Konoha, many Konoha ninjas still regard him as an extremely dangerous S-class renegade ninja.
The harm he directly or indirectly caused Konoha left many Konoha ninjas holding resentment.
Among them, Asuma is one.
The brother and sister-in-law he has always respected and admired died at the hands of this man.
Between them, the hatred runs deep like the sea.
"Seeing a familiar figure here, I wondered who it was, turned out to be the Son of the Hokage. Did you come with the delegation from the Land of Fire?"